General Lincoln having lately moved the Main Body of his Army towards Genl. Williamson's Camp, opposite Augusta, where Col. Butler, with 700 men from your State, had just arrived, he intended crossing Savannah River at that place & moving down the Country after the Enemy, leaving Genl. Moultrie, with about 1,000 Men, at Black Swamp & Purysburg. The Enemy immediately Crossed over the chief of their force, & have obliged him to Retreat before them within 43 miles of this place, where he was this morning at 7 o'clock, still intending to retreat to Charles Town if pursued, his force being no way equal to oppose them in the field; their movements through the British part of this State has thrown the Inhabitants into the greatest confusion, & we despair of checking them until they reach this place. Governor Rutledge, with about three hundred and fifty men, was on the March from his Camp at Orangeburg to join Genl. Moultrie, & Genl. Lincoln, by our latest accounts, was coming in the Enemy's rear at least four days' behind them in his march; this is our present Situation, & I think every assistance you can possibly afford us will be necessary at this time—the Enemy's force in Georgia is said to be five thousand, & they give out that they are to be joined by a reinforcement from New York. I make no doubt but your Excellency will use all your Endeavours to send us further Succours, of which I fear we shall stand in great need. A quantity of ammunition and arms forwarded from Congress by Land has been a considerable time on the Road, & I fear must be detained for want of proper assistance. I am to request your Excellency to hurry on the waggons with these articles, & to afford every aid to them in your power, they being much wanted here at present; if you could send forward the arms in Light waggons we might wait for the powder some time longer, having a large supply of that article at

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this time. Convinced of your Excellency's readiness to give us every aid in your power,